Mechanism for making and applying transparent window patches to envelopes



H. KASSEKERT 2,006,215

MECHANISM FOR'MAKING AND APPLYING TRANSPARENT WINDOW PATCHES T0 ENVELOPES June 25, 1935.

Filed Jan. 14, 1953 '7 Sheets-Sheet l Siaiibn 2..

INVENTdRS Henry ita a 5 eifi'er'f,

W T/V555 June 25, 1935. H. KASSEKERT 2,006,215

MECHANISM FOR MAKING AND APPLYING TRANSPARENT WINDOW PATCHES TO ENVELOPES .Filed Jan. 14, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR5 Hnr Kasse/Eerrj By Frank J Kae'er,"

June 25, 1935. H. KASSEKERT 2,006,215

MECHANISM FUR MAKING AND APPLYING TRANSPARENT WINDOW PATCHES TO ENVELOPES Fild Jan. 14, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet :s

'- l ORNEY June 25,, 1935. H. KASSEK ERT I 6, MECHANISM FOR MAKING AND 'APPLYING TRANSPARENT WINDOW PATCHES T0 ENVELOPES Filed'jan. 14, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 WTNESS ATORNEY H. KASSEKERT 2,006,215

Filed Jan. 14, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet'S June 25, 1935.

MECHANISM FOR MAKING AND APPLYING TRANSPARENT WINDOW PATCHES T0 ENVELOPES W/TNESS H. KASSEKERT June 25, 1935.

MECHANISM FOR MAKING AND APPLYING TRANSPARENT WINDOW PATCHES TO ENVELOPES Filed Jan. 14, 1935 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 [NVENTOR5 Henry Kassekerif WIT/V566 ATTORNEY.

June25, 1935. H. KASS EKERT 2,006,215

MECHANISM FOR MAKING AND APPLYING TRANSPARENT WINDOW PATCHES TO ENVELOPES Filed Jan. 14, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 109 x g 1 13 4 30 INVENTORS iv enrykassekerfi Frank (IX/a eser AT RNEY.

Patented June 25, 1935 MECHANISM FOR MAKING AND APPLYING TRANSPARENT WINDOW PATCHES ENvELoPEs Henry Kassekert, Maple Shade, N. J and Frank J. Kaeser, Philadelphia, Pa., 'assignors to E. J.' Spangler Company, Philadelphia, 'Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 14,

5 Claims.

. a window cut therein and a transparent strip of paper on theinside of the envelope covering the window.

A further object of this invention is to pro- 3 vide a patch-forming and applying mechanism in which the transparent patch material supplied thereto is in strip'or ribbon form, a great length of which is wound on areel or spool, the width of the strip of the ribbon being a little greater than the width (the short dimension) of the window in the envelope blank to provide an intermittently operating cutting mechanism which automatically severs substantially exact predetermined lengths of said patch material, the lengths of the severed pieces or patches being a little greater than the length (the longer dimension) of the window, and to immediately press the severed length of transparent material against the already applied stripes of glue surrounding, but spaced from, the edge of the window in the envelope blank.

A further object of this invention is to intermittently feed the web or ribbon of transparent window patch material longitudinally to a position over and in registration with the window opening in the envelope blank and immediately I under a presser head or plunger, to then out off an exact length of said material sufficient to amply extend beyond each end of the window opening and to then press the severed patch against gummed. sides of the envelope blank, the gum having been applied to the blank just prior to the movement of the blank to the second or patch applying station.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine in which a narrow strip of patch material is longitudinallymoved into a position in which the free end of the strip is in registration with the window in an envelope blank, the ribbon being fed in a direction parallel to the length of the window and at right angles to the path of the movement of the blank through the envelope-machine as it is moved from the glue applying station, to a center station where 1933, Serial No. 651,756

(or. 93-61) v the blank dwells while the patch is applied'to the blank. g i

A further object of this invention. is to provide a patch-forming and applying mechanism which is operated in synchronism with'the movement of the blank through the envelope-forming machine; which is simple in its construction; in which the various parts .are readily accessible to the operator of the machine; in which the stock' of material from which the patch is' formed is at one side of the machine where it is accessi ble,instead of being as usual, midway between the sides of the machine; and in which all 'the various sub-mechanisms, which are brought/into action, to feedthe material, to sever it, and to press the severed patch against the envelope blankare operated from a single control shaft lying substantially above the platen or table of the en specification and claims below.

Referring now to the drawings'forming a part of this specification and in which the same reference characters are employed throughout the various views to designate the same parts,

PATENT OFFICEQr Fig. 1 is a diagrammaticview to illustrate the three successive operations which are performed on the blank or an envelope in its passage through the envelope forming machine and with which this invention is adapted to cooperate in applying the patch of transparent paper to the window, the three stages comprising the first,

station wherein the gum is applied; the second station in which the patch is applied; and the third station wherein the envelope is folded;

Fig. 2 is anelevational view of my improved patch-forming and applying mechanism, the" in Fig. 2 but on an enlarged scale to clearly illustrate the construction and operation of the attachment; i 2

a ing the feed rolls and the way in which the at-- tachment. may be adjustably secured to the framework of the envelope-machine;

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of the plunger for applying the transparent patch to the envelope blank;

Fig. 12 is a similar view of the opposite end of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8;

.Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detail of construction showing the mechanism for intermittently rotati'ng the feed rollers and for regulating the length of time that the rollers shall be rotated to feedforwardly the length of transparent window material sufiicient to coverthe window in the blank;

. v14 15 also a fragmentary sectional view of the mechanism operative to hold the envelope blank on the platen whilethe patch is being applied thereto; and

15..is a side elevational view. of the detail of the mechanism for actuating the knife or shears to-sever the transparent window material to .form, a patch for application to the envelope blank. 1

In order that the nature of this invention may bemade-at once apparent, it should be here stated thatfthere are existing envelope making which operate in what isusually referred to. as three stages, positions or stations,

,= reference'being had to the progress, of the envelope blank through the envelope machine, and

since this invention is particularly adaptable to operate with such machines, we will briefly describe those .three'stages or stations, as diagram- 1 matically illustrated in Fig. 1.

, They-first stage or, station is that in which the flat envelope blank I is given a stripe or line 2.

of glue orother adhesive along the edges of the sealing :fiap 3, stripes 4 of adhesive along the opposite edges of the opposite flap 5 and a stripe plied, the envelope blank I is bodily moved by a pair .of carrier hooks -8-8 at the ends of the reciprocating carrier bars 9-9, or by any other suitable transferring mechanism, to the second or-center station wherein the motion of the blank-is arrested. The blank stops or dwells in this station, inits travel through the machine and lies fiat against the platen I0 and is held immovable with respect to the platen while the carrier hooks are moved back away therefrom to the first position or station and while a second pair of carrier hooks -I I-II also carried by the bars 9-9 respectively, move to a position to the rear of the blank I thus heldin the center or second position or station.

While the blank I is thus held stationary with respect to; theplaten (by a mechanism to be referred to again below),- a patch ll of. substantially transparent patchvpaper is brought into registration with the window is quickly pressed down against the upper side of the blank and into contact with the stripes 6 of adhesive surrounding the window opening I. The thin patch material adheres to the blank and the pressing plunger is immediately elevated or retracted and the patch is thus applied to the envelope blank.

As soon as this has been accomplished, the carrier bars 9-9 begin their forward movement, a new gummed blank being advanced by the hooks 88 to the center position, while the blank to which the patch is now attachedis advanced to the third position or station in which the side flaps I3--I3 are folded over down against the back of the rectangular portion I4 of the blank, the flap 5 is turned over to fold down against the now upper sides of the flaps I3 and being pressed firmly against them causes the flap 5 to firmly adhere to the flaps I3.

During or just after the steps above enumerated the sealing flap 3 is also bent upwardly to form the crease I5, but this flap is not pressed down against the back side of the now finished envelope because it would adhere thereto. The sealing flap 3 is merely bent upwardly and then the envelope so formed is delivered by any suitable mechanism to a drier, generally achain driven carrier (not shown), in which the finished envelopes remain separatefrom each other for a length of time sufiicient to allow the stripe 2 of adhesive'on the sealing flap 3 to set and harden. I

So far we have described only those features of construction and operation which have been embodied in envelope-forming machines for a long time, the same being sufliciently descriptive of a three stage-or station envelope-forming machine, for which our invention is particularly designed, to make it .clear the manner in which the invention is to be installed on such machines to operate during a substantial dwell of the blank on the flat support or platen If) in the position above referred to as the center position or station which immediately follows i the application of the glue to the blank.

The present invention provides, a patch applying mechanism wherein a relatively narrow strip or ribbon I2 of transparent window material may be intermittently drawn from a spool cr-reel and fed intermittently longitudinally of the ribbon into position over the window openl of an envelope blank and in a direction at right angles to the direction of the envelope through the envelope-forming machine and parallel to the long dimension of the opening and then. severing an exact substantially constant length of said ribbon to form a narrow patch I2 which is immediately automatically aflixed to the envelope blank I. In this respect this mode of utilizing a narrow ribbon I2 of substantially transparent material, the width of the ribbon being a little greater than the width (the short dimension) of the window opening I, lends itself particularly to three station envelope machines, to the simplification of the patch applying mechand by itsusethe patch may be severed and attached to the envelope with certainty (few misses) and accuracy (in registration).

In theaccompanying drawings are shown only such parts of a standard envelope machine as are necessary to clearly set forth the construction and operation of a mechanism embodying the present invention, and for indicating the location of our improvement with respect to the standard parts of well-known envelope machine.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the envelope machine is shown as comprising a table "5 on legs IT, on which table ismounted the platen If! on which the-envelope is' moved or slid from the gumming position to; the patch applying station and from the patch applying station to the folding or final station, The platen H1 is supported on legs or. supports l8.

. From the upper surface of the table l6 rise the usual arches or spans Iii-2D, the arch l'9 being substantially at the gumming station and upon which the gum applying devices (not shown) are mounted and the arch 20 being located substantiallyat the folding station of the envelope machine for supporting parts of the folding mechanism (not shown). In order to install this invention on such an envelope machine, the two arches l9 and 2D areconnected by two, preferably parallel horizontal rails or tracks 2 I, 22 rigidly secured thereto and extending longitudinally of the envelope'machine, and on these rails we mount the frame 23 in or on which the essential parts of the present inventionv are carried. This frame 23 comprises a topplate 24 lying fiat on the upper surfaces of the rails 2I22 and provided with a slot'25 (see Fig. 10) through which pass screws 26 threaded into hooks 21, engaging the undersides of the rails 2| and 22 respectively. By loosening the screws 26, the position of the top plate may be adjusted lengthwise of the slot 25'and longitudinally of the rails 2 |22 to bring the operative mechanism carried by the frame 23 1 into proper position with respect to the envelope on the platen ll) of the envelope machine at the center station and when so adjusted the screws 25 are" tightened and the top plate 24 and the parts carried thereby are held clamped rigid with respect to the framework of the machine.

The frame 23 and the 'entire'patch-forming and patch-applying mechanism, mounted therein is thus made adjustable in any direction in a horizontal plane so that the same may be readily adjusted to the position and sizes of different windows in different blanks.

From thetwo ends of the top plate 24 depend the side plates 28 and 28 and the lowerends of said side plates are connected by and support a horizontal bottom plate 33 which extends transversely across the envelope machine. It is upon or within this frame 23 that the essential parts of the present invention are mounted. Thus, on the side of the top plate 24 is a bracket 3| extending upwardly and carrying a horizontal spindle 32 on which a spool or reel 33 of paper ribbon l2, which forms the supply of material from which the patch is to be made, is mounted toyrotate freely on the spindle 32'. On the rear side of i said frame 23 and adjacent the bottom thereof are a pair of bearings 34 and 35 in which is mounted the main cam shaft 36 to extend horizontally transversely over the platen It). On the left-hand side of the machine or frame 23, the shaft 36 extends outwardlyand is further journaled in a bracket 3'! provided with a channel 38 fitting over the edge of the table l6 and secured thereto by a set screw 39 passing through a slot 40 in the said bracket, so that the bracket may be adjusted longitudinally of the table to bring the journal of the shaft in that bracket into strict alinementwith the bearings 34-435 on the frame 23. The end of the cam shaft 36 is provided with a sprocket wheel 4| drivenzby a sprocket chain 42 from afisprocket wheel 43 on the countershaft 44 in turn driven 'by a sprocket wheel 45 through a chain 46 from a sprocket wheel 41 fixed to the main drive shaft 48 of the'envelope machine. The sprocket wheels-are preferably/rallof the same size and preferably have the same;

number. of teeth so that the three shafts 35,44:

Referring now toFigslZ, 3, 8-and 9, uponithe outside of the plate 23 is mounted a bracket-'49.

in which is journaled a feed roller 50, fixed'on. itsshaft 35 I'. frame 52, in the upper part of which is mounted a presser roller 53 normally'held in yielding con tact with the roller 50 by springs 54, one 'e'ndofeach being connected to' the frame52 and the other to the bracket 49. Tohold'the presser roller 53 separated from the feed roller 50,'when-desirable, there is mounted on the bracket-49a bar 55, rectangular in cross-sectio-n, rotatable on its longitudinal axis and provided with a handle 56;-

In the position shown in Fig. 9 the bar 55 is out. of contact with the frame52 and the spring L54-v holds the roller 53 pressed against the roller 50.- When, however; the handle 55 is lifted through the bar engages the frame 52, swings it about its pivotal axis, and separates the roller 53'from therollerEil.

The feed roller 50 is driven by aworm gear 58 on the end of the drive shaft 59 and meshing with a worm gear 66 on the'vertical shaft 6| mounted in bearings62, 63 supported on thelsideplate-28 Also mounted on the bracket 49 is a the Worm gear 60 and the feed roller50 area pa'ir of friction clutch members 66, 6?,- the member 66 being rigid with respect to the worm gear; 58 and the member 61 being slidable into andout-ofuen-fl gagement with the member 56 .and fixed to the shaft 5! of the roller 50 to rotate therewith. The

clutch member 61' is normally held'in frictional driving engagement with the member 66 by'the spring 68 but it may be separated therefrom by theclutch separating member 69, whiclris ia bell crank lever pivoted on a stud It! also mounted on thebracket 43 and provided with a relatively stiff connecting rod H pivoted to the free arm of the bell crank lever 69 and having at its lower end ll" fitting an eccentric pin 72 on'theend'of the shaft l3 which is rotatably mounted in apair of bracket arms 'Ml4,- also on the face of the side plate 28; q I The brackets 74 extend downwardly for a sub-e. stantial distance and are respectively provided the ends 16 of the roller Tl carried by and mounted to rotate'in the ends of thelinks 18, the other ends of the links 18 being pivotally mounted on a bar 19 mounted in the lower ends of a pair of links8ii, the upper ends of which are rigidly connected to. the shaft '53. By reason of this con? struction any downward movementnof the'roller H in the slot '15 rotate the shaft 13 in a clock.-

wise direction thereto throwing the eccentric pin '12 upwardly, moving the link H upwardly and, by rotating slightly the elbow lever 69, separates'the clutch member 37 from the clutch member to interrupt the rotation of the feed roller 5fl'and any upward movement of theroller 11 rotates the shaft T3 in the opposite direction tur-ningthe free end of the lever 59 toward the clutchmember 66 and permitting the spring 68 to move the clutch member 61 into driving engagement with the clutch member 66 to recommen'ce the driving of the feed roller 50. e v Mounted on the main'cam shaft 36 a'nd rotat; abletherewith is a cylindrical cam 8 I against; the

is attached one end of a spring 86, the other end of which is connected to a pin or post 81 station- 'arily with respectto the bottom plate 38 .(as on the 'bracket I22), the spring being operative to yieldingly hold the follower roller 82against the i edgel-I of the cam 8I. The lever 83 is also provided with a pawl 88, the free end of which is normally held against the teeth 89 of a ratchet "by a spring '98, the ratchet 89 being freely rotatabie on the stud shaft 84 and being rigidly connected with a gear 9I also freely rotatable on the studshaft 84 and meshing with a pinion 92 rigidly mounted on the end of the shaft 93 suitablyjournaled in bearings 93' on the lower side of'the-bottom plate 38 and constituting the drive shaft of the lower feedroller 94. Cooperating with the roller 94 is theupper feed roller 95 suitablyjournaled in bearings 96 on the upper side of the bottom plate 38 on a shaft 98 provided with a'gear 91 meshing with a gear 98 fixedly connected to the lower feed roller shaft 93 and with the pinion 92 so that the said rollers 94, 95 are geared and rotate at the same speed and are operative to draw between them the tape or ribbon I2 of patch paper as will be referred to again below; The pressure between the rollers 94 and 95 may be adjusted and controlled by any suitable device, as by the screws 95'; Also mounted on the stud shaft 84 and adapted to be fixedly and adjustably secured thereto by the nut 99'is an arm -I88 extending outwardly radially from the axis of the said stationary stud Shaftandcarrying on its free ends an arcuate shield or strip I8I lying close to and over the ratchet teeth 89. "This device is for the purpose of regulating and adjusting the number of teeth the ratchet wheel 89 shall be advanced uponeach complete rotation of the main camshaft 36 or soscillation of the lever 83.

The gear 9| is provided with a brake drum or head I82 which is surrounded by an adjustable brake or friction band composed of two parts I83 and I84, the lower, I84, of which is rigidly secured to a post I85 and the upper, I83, of which is held yieldingly pressed toward the lower member by the springs I88 surrounding the screws I81 as is a clearly shown in Fig. 8, the purpose of this friction mechanism being to prevent any overthrow or further movement of the ratchet wheel 89 and the spoolior reel of paper 33 is advanced by the said feed rollers 9495. Next .to the main cam shaft, 36 is a cam I89 rigidly secured to said-shaft to rotate therewith.

. and coacting therewith is a lever- II8 provided at its free end with a roller follower III,v said lever being pivotally mounted on a pivot pin I I2 carried by a bracket I I3 also rigidly mounted on thebottol'n plate- 38. The lever H8 is provided with'a.

tion. 1

knife or shear blade which coacts with a stationaryknife-or shear blade II5 adjacent the discharge end of the guideway I88 and secured to the bottom plate 38. The knife blades or shears II4-I'I5 extend directly across the path of the paper which is advanced through the guideway ,I88 by the feed rollers 94, 95 and it will be seen are operative to sever the paper tape or ribbon once after every revolution of the main cam shaft 38. A tension spring H8 is operative to hold the follower roller III against the surface of'the cam I89, and a tension spring II4, connected to the free end of the blade 4 is operative to yieldingly hold the blade 4 against the stationary blade H5 and thus insures a cleanseverance of the paper thereby. v

Immediatelybeyond theshearing blades II4 H5; the bottom plate 30v is provided with a rectangular opening N6, the longer sides of which are provided with channel bars. I I1-I I1 in alinement with the guide bars I88.-I88 respectively and in which the severed pieces (patches I2) of patch paper I2 are supported just priorto the pressing of the same against the gummed envelope blank. The mechanism effecting this op-. eration of the present device is'particularly shown in Figs. Hand 12 which show respectively the opposite sides of the same mechanism'in eleva- This mechanism is operated by a cam I I8 fixed to the cam shaft 36 and coacting with a roller follower II9 carried. at the end of a bar I28 mounted to slide longitudinally toward and away from the axis of thecam shaft 36 in'a housing IZI rigidly secured to theside of a bracket I22 which in turn is rigidly secured to the bottom plate 38. Within the housing I.2I the bar I28 is provided with rack teeth I29 in engagement with the teethI23 of a pinion I23'rigidlyv mounted on a shaft I24journaled in the bracket I22.v On'the other side of the bracket I22 the shaft I24 is provided with a segmental gear I25 meshing with the teeth I28 of a rack bar or plunger I26 mounted to slide vertically in a guideway I21, provided in the bracket I22. The lower end of this rack bar or plunger I26 is provided with. a rectangular head I28 the dimensions of which are a little less than thedirnension of the patch I2 to be applied. The upper end of the rack 'bar I28 is provided with a pinaI29 to which is secured one end of a spiral spring I38, the otherend being attached to a pin I3I on the outside of the guideway I21, the spring I38 being under tension and tending to move the rack bar downwardly and through the segmental rack I25 and rack and pinion I28I23 to hold the follower II9 against the cam I I8 particularly as the follower traverses the low part I I8 of the cam I Hi.

We have shown a piece of flexible tubing I32 attached to the upper side of the head I28 to indicate that the said head may be hollow and may be connected by the said tubing to an air pump or cylinder I33 mounted upon the table or frame I6 and pivotally mounted on a bracket I34 to oscillate, the air pump being provided with a piston rod I35connected to, a crank pin I36 mounted on the countershaft 44 and turned to'exhaust air from the head I28 before the plunger I26 begins its downward travel and until the transparent patch has been affixed to the envelope blank and to break the vacuum in the head or presser I28 just prior to the time when the plunger I28 starts its upward movement. Such an air-pump attachment is contemplated by us whenever occasion demands the use of it,

but we have foundthat with arelatively stiff thin paper patch supported in the guide bars II1 spaced for only a short distance above the face of the blank, the suction device is unnecessary "and its use may be dispensed with. There are types of machines, however, in which it may be desirable to hold the patch firmly against the face of the head I28 in transferring the patch to the surface of the envelope blank, in which event, the air-pump and connection to the'hollow head I28 is preferred.

There is another sub-mechanism operable from the cam shaft 35 which will be next described. After the envelope blank I has been transferred from the gumming position or station to the patch applying station, it must be held stationary with respect to the platen I during the patch applying operation to insure an accurate registration of the patch with the opening in the envelope. For this purpose there is mounted on the cam shaft 35 a cam I31 and there is rigidly mounted upon the bottom plate 35 a bracket I38 extending outwardly therefrom under the cam shaft and then upwardly above it. To the end of this bracket I38 is pivoted a lever I39 having a roller I40 in engagement with the surface of the cam I31, and the lever I33 is preferably connected at its outer end with a vertical rod or plunger I 4-I mounted to slide vertically in a bear ing I42 and below the bottom plate 30, the'lower end of said plunger MI is provided with a head I43. A tension spring I44 is preferably attached at its ends to the bracket I38 and the lever I39 thereby being operative to hold the roller I45 in firm contact with the surface of the cam I31 and to depress the plunger I4I when the low part I31 of the cam I31 travels under the roller I40. This cam I31 is so timed or positioned on the'cam shaft 35 that as soon as the carrier hooks on the carrier bars 9-9 have brought the envelope blank to the center station, the plunger I4I descends so that any friction between the carrier bars 9-9 and the underside of the blank which may be present as the carrier bars return toithe front or feed end of the envelope machine sliding under the envelope blank, will not tend to displace or move in the slightest the envelope blank in that center position. It will be clamped and held firmly between the platen Ill and the flat underside of the plunger head I43. It also follows that the position of the plunger I4! is,

of course, one in which it is spaced from the edges of the opening H6 in the bottom plate 39 as clearly appears in the plan view of the mechanism in Fig. 7 and in Fig. 17.

In the envelope machine shown in the drawings as exemplified in Figs. 2 and 3, the main shaft 48 is continually driven and the sprocket wheel 43 is free to rotate on the countershaft 44 but is held from longitudinal movement on the countershaft by the collar I45. The sprocket wheel 45 is provided with a clutch member I46 rigid therewith and which cooperate with a slid-- ing clutch member I41 which may be slid longitudinally on the countershaft 44, but is normally held pressed against the clutch member I45 by a spiral spring I48 between the clutch member I41 and a collar I49 stationary on the countershaft. The sliding clutch member I41 has a tongue, or finger 59 which fits into a longitudinal groove I5I in the collar I49. The length of this finger I55 is such that it is never outof engagement with the groove I5I even when pressed to the left (see Fig. 2) to the limit of itsmotion in that direction wherein ,it lies squarely against'the clutch member M8 on the sprocket wheel.- :T-h'e sliding member I41 is provided with an annular.

groove I52 in the surfacethereof andthe righthand wall I52 of the groove I52 is provided e a cam I53. I I

Adjacent the right-hand wall I52 of "the groove I52 is a cylindrical pin or rod I54 having I59 depending from the table I6.-The end of the rod I58 terminates in a knoblfill' and between the framework of the machine and the collar IBI secured to the rod I58 is a spiral spring I 62 under compression; Mounted on the bracket I59 .is preferably a latcl'rI63. The operation of this mechanism last described will now beapparent. The spring I62 no'rmally holds the rounded end I54" of the rod I54 pressed toward the axisv of the shaft so that as soon as the cam I53 passes the end I54 of the rod, the' spring forces the rod inwardly adjacent the 'vertical wall I52"v of the groove I52 and as the shaft con.- tinues to revolve, the cam I53 sliding against the end of the rigid pin or rod I54 moves themovable member I 41 to the right (from the position shown in. Fig. 2) disengaging the clutch member I41 from the clutch on the sprocket and rotation of the countershaft ceases. To start the countershaft the operator draws outwardly. on the knob I50 until the latch I53 takes against the rear side of the head or knob-I50 and holds the rod I 54 out of the groove I52. So long as the rod is retained in this position, theinachine will be continually driven from .thecountershaft." To stop the machine, the latch"l63 is raised, the spring, I52 forces the rod I51 to the left, crowds the end I 54 into the groove I 52 and separates'the clutch member I41 from the clutchmember I46.

To make ready to'operate the machine, the end of the ribbon I2 of thin substantially trans.- parent ribbon-like paper wound on the reel or spool, is passed down between the feed rollers 50 and 53, the presser roller.53 being held away from the driven roller 50 by raising the handle 56 .to the horizontal position, whereupon the rectangular bar 55 will force the lever upon which the roller 53 is mounted away, from the roller 50 against. the tension of the'spring leaving a space betweenthe rollers. The web or ribbon I2 is then passed downwardly under the roller11, and then upwardly into the guideway in and between the guide bars I58 secured to the bottom plate of the frame and into and between the feed rollers 94, 95 which may be rotated by oscillating the handle 83' when the follower 82 is'opposite the low portion of the cam 8|, to advance the end of the ribbon beyond the blade II4, II5and into the guide bars I I1, II1 in the opening H6.

and between the edges of the channel bars II1 onthe sides of the opening II6 the bottom plate 30 and beneath the head I28 of the plunger, I25. As soon as the feed rollers cease rotating,

(the follower 82 on the lever 83 having reached the low part of the cam 8D ,the knife bl'adeI-M is now-operated by the cam I99 to sever the patch I2 which is now held or supported in the chancomes to its dwell on the platen III, the plunger I41 is operated by its cam I31 to hold the envelope blank immovable on the platen III in order that the "carrier rods 9 may move rearwardly to.-

ward the front of the machine without changing the position of the blank on the platen.

At this point the cam N8 of the patch-applying mechanism has moved to a position wherein the lower member N8 of the cam begins its travel under the plunger bar I20, whereupon the plunger quickly descends carrying the severed.

patchuheld in the channel bars II1 downwardly on its face against the envelope blank and more specifically against the adhesive stripes 6 sur rounding the window opening 1, and, having pressed the patch firmly against the blank, the plunger I26 quickly rises to the position shown in Fig. 11., In-Fig. 12, the plunger is shown as having freed the patch from the channel bars H1 and as quickly transferring it to the blank on the platen. l

In-Figs. 11 and 12 the spacing between the plunger head or plate I28 and the patch I2 is exaggerated and the distance between the patch I2 and the platen I8 is exaggerated for the sake of, clearness in illustration. .The movement of the plunger I26is relatively short and quick, the. cam H8 is of a shape to permit the spring I30 to quickly depress the plunger and was quickly restore it to its normal position shown in Fig. 11. The patch having thus been quickly applied to the envelope blank and the plunger I26 having returned to its normal position, the continued rotation of the cam shaftand the cam 8| there- -on has permitted the roller to reach the low portion of the said cam, the spring '86 holding the roller 82 against; the surface of the cam and from that point the lower end of the lever 83 begins to move to the left (Fig. '2) causing the :upward end of the lever to move clockwise, the pawl 88 sliding over the shield or plate I8l until it reaches the endrof said plate, whereupon the pawl 88 comes into engagement with the teeth '89 of the ratchet 89 and the continued move- ,ment of the lever in a clockwise direction rotates the ratchet wheel 89 and withv it thegear -9I to drive the feed rollers 94, 95 and advance the tape I-2' a suificient distance to form the next patch, which, at or upon the arrival of the next envelope blank to thepatch applying station, is severed from the web: I2 and pressed against the new envelope blank in the same manner as that heretofore described.

It is to be noted here that the feed or advance of the tape by the feed rollers 94, 95 is anintermittent motion and it is also to be noted that the rotation of the feed roller 50 coac'ting with its presser roller 53 is normally continuous to continuously draw the. ribbon I2 from the reel 33.. During the period that the feed rollers 94, 95 are stationary or inoperative, thefeed roller 59 normally continuously increases the length of the ribbon between the feed roller 59 and the intermittently operated feed rollers 94, 95, To insure that the feed roller 59 does not deliver the web I2 to.the feed rollers 94, 95 substantially faster than it is utilized and advanced by *the feed rollers 94, 95, the take-up roller 11 is employed to slide inthe slots 15 vertically. The

roller 50 mustfeed or advance the web I2 a little faster than is required to supply the rollers 94, 95 and this roller 11 operates'vas a take-up in the following manner.

\ When the rollers 94, 95 are stationary, the rod or roller 11 slowly descends gravitationally in the slots 15 as the web is continuously delivered or advanced by the feed roller 58. As it falls it slowly tends to straighten out the links 18,-80, turning the shaft 13 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 9). The eccentric pin 12 with which the shaft 13 is provided, is so positioned with respect to the shaft13 that itsdirection is substantially vertically upward as'the rod 11falls or drops and this vertical movement of the eccentric pin 12 forces the connecting rod II slightly upwardly. I I V The upwardly movement of the connecting rod H (see Fig. 3) rotates the bell-crank lever 69 in a clockwise direction sliding the movable, member 61 of the movable clutch member to the rightagainst the tension'of the spring 69 and away from the continuously rotating clutch member 66, with the result that the rotationvof the feed roller 58 is stopped. When this takes place, and the feed rollers '94, 95 next quickly advance the tape the length of the patch, therod 11 rises in the slot 15 and thus shortens the length of the material between the rollers 94, 95

and the now stationary feed roller 56 lifting the ing engagement with the clutch member 66,

whereupon the feed of the web I2 fromthe reel 33 recommences. Thus it is that the position of the rod 11 controls the amount of ribbon or tape delivered to the intermittently operating feed rollers 94, 95, the feed roller 59 being driven slowly and from the continuous rotating clutch member 66 whenever the rod 11 is in its upward position and being disconnected from its driving relationship with the friction clutch member 66 whenever the rod 11 approaches its lowermost position in the slot 15. I

By'a correct adjustment of the arm I08 and with it the plate I81 with respect to the stationary stud shaft 84, the time when the pawl shall come into engagement with the ratchet teeth 89' can be accurately determined so that on every rotation of the cam 8| the ratchet 89 will be advanced a predetermined number of teeth andthe forward end of the-ribbon I 2' will be advanced by'the feed rollers 94, 95 from the edge of the blade'll5 into and betweenthe channel bars I I1 to a predetermined position beyond the far end of the window opening 1 in the envelope blank held in the center or patch applying station.- The length of material so advanced will be a little greater than the length of the opening 1 in the blank and a little longer than the long dimension of the rectangle 6 of glue on the envelope'blank and the width of the tape orribbon I2 is preferably somewhat greater than the width of the opening 1 in the blank and preferably slightly greater than the short dimension of the rectangle 6 of glue around the opening 1.

The dimensions of the rectangular head I28 of the plunger I26 are preferably 'a little less than the corresponding dimensions of the patch and preferably it is of substantially the dimensions of the rectangle 6 of moist adhesive imprinted .upon the blank, so that the adhesive is not squeezed outwardly beyond the marginal edges of the patch and the envelope underthe pressure applied by the plunger I26, but lies all within the limits or boundaries of the edges of the patch, with the result that the envelope, with the patch freshly applied thereto, may be immediately advanced from the patch applying station to the folding station andthere folded, and with the further result that the face I28 of the plunger 528 is always'maintained clean, that is to say, without any adhesive on the face there- 01.

Because of the construction heretofore re ferred to and wherein the patch !2 is supported in the guide bars II'I relatively close to the head I28 of the plunger I26 when the said plungor is in its normal elevated position and rela- =tively close to the upper gummed surface of the envelope on the platen when it reachesthe said center position, and because of the rapid operation of the plunger I26 in applying the patch to the blank, the patch I2 may generally be applied to the blank without the use of a vacuum for holding the patch immovable and firmly against the, face of the patch applying plunger, but whenever there is any likelihood of the patch to move laterally out of registration with the window opening 'i as thepatch is forced down from its channel-like supports Ill and is transferred thereover to the surface of the blank, or

wherever the distance between the supports II! and the platen is so-great that the patch is likely to move transversely in its travel from its supports to the" envelope blank, then the use of the pump I33'and the flexibletube I32 connected to the hollow head I28 is advisable.

From the foregoing the general sequence of steps and operations for which we have designed this machine will now be apparent and as follows: thatas the blankis moving from the gumming station to the center or patch applying station the feed rollers 94 and 95 are operating to advance the paper into the channel bars or supports II'I so; that the forward end of the ribbon I2" applied will be in its proper position over the blank at or about the time when its stops or dwells in said center station and that the feed rollers 94, 95 then stop; that the strip or ply or ribbon I2 is severed by the shears I I4, I I5; that immediately thereafter the plunger I25 will be actuated to descend; and carry with it the severed patch I2 from the position above and in registration with the window or opening I inthe blank, down into contact with the blank to which it adheres; that the plunger immediately rises and the blank, with'the patch attached, is then advanced to-the third or folding position, while the next ,gummed blank is brought into the center station, whereupon the operations of the mechanism as above referred to are repeated; and that the speed at which the web I2 is drawn from the reel is regulated, controlled or governed by a take-up mechanism mounted on the side of the frame and operable to automatically stop and start the operation of the drawing rollers 5t, 53 by a take-up mechanism which'operates by, the'variations which rollers 94, 95.

By feeding a ribbon or band of patch material into the machine transverse to the direction in which the envelope travels through theienvelope machine, the registration of the patch with the window in the blank can readily beeffected by intermittently advancing the, narrow ribbon lengthwise of the opening 'for' an exact and predetermined distance and by mounting the reel f or supply of material from which the patch. is I supplied on the side of the envelope machine, it is in a position of easy access. The -mechanism for drawing the tape from the reel and for .compensating for any variation inthe rate at which the paper may be drawn from the reel is al'so convenient for access and adjustment. The

whole patch mechanism is substantially mounted as a unit in or on the frame 23 and may be easily attached to and be used in connection with any envelope machine in which the envelope dwells in a fixed position after the gumming' operation by suspending the frame and the parts mounted thereon from two rails attached'to the upper framework of such envelope machines upon which rails the framework is adjustable to substantially any position with respect to the platen to adapt it to different types and sizes of envelopes and of windows therein. Moreover, the

'feed rollers, the knives, the patch applying plunger and the blank clamping plunger are'all directly operated by cams, which can be set in timed relation, on a single shaft extending across the envelope machine, over the platen'at the center station, where the timing of these sub-mechanisms can be accurately made and'when any readjustment is necessary as for a different envelope with a window of different size and'loca tion, the mechanisms are accessible from both sides of the machine for the operator to make such adjustments.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

bination with a platen for an envelope blank having a' window opening cut therein and adhesive freshly applied thereto aroundsaid opening, of a frame mounted to extend over ."and above said platen, a shaft mounted in said frame, means to support a roll of a ribbon of patch paper, the width of said ribbon being a little wider than the short dimension of said window, ,d'rawi. In a patch-applyingrmechanism, the com-R ribbon after it has been. advanced bysaid feed mechanism, stationary guideways mounted on said frame, in a fixed relationship with respect to said frame and engaging the opposite longitudinal sides of said ribbon to support the free end of said ribbon above the surface of said blank as it is advancedby said feed mechanism and to support said patch by its opposite longer side edges after severance from saidribbon, a patchapplying plunger mounted upon said frame and intermittently operated by said shaft to quickly force said severed patch downwardly, outifrom said guideway and to carry said patch tosaid envelope blank, over said opening and to press said patch into firm contact with said adhesive adjacent said opening.

2. In a patch-applying mechanism, the com- 5 iabove said platen, a shaft mountedin saidfrarne,

means to support a roll of a ribbon of patch pa pe'r; the width of said-ribbon being a little wider than theshort dimension of said window, drawing means to normally draw said ribbon from said roll at a constant linear speed, a feed mechanism mounted in said frame and means driven by said shaft to intermittently rotate said mechanismto'repeatedly advance, at each actuation thereof, a predetermined invariable length of said iribbon, said'length being a'little greater than the longdimension of said window in said blank,

means to sever a patch from the free end of said ribbonv after it has been advanced by said feed mechanism, guideways in said frame and engaging; the opposite longitudinal sides of said ribbon to support the free end of said ribbon above the {surface of said blankas it is advanced by said feed mechanism and to support said patch by its opposite longer side edges after severance from said-ribbon, a patch-applying plunger mounted upon said frame and intermittently ,operated by said shaft to transfer said severed patch from said guideway to said envelope blank, over said opening and into firm contact with said adhesive adjacent saidopening, andmeans carried by said frame and actuated by said shaft to intermittentlyclamp said blank to said platen until said patch has been applied to said blank.

3'. Inapatch applying mechanism for window envelope machines comprising a platen to which the gummed, envelope blanks are consecutively regularly fed, a rigid frame mounted over said -.platen, a main shaft mounted in said frame to continuously rotate in synchronism with said envelope machine, means mounted on said frame forsupporting a supply of ribbon patch paper, a pair of 'coacting feed rollers mounted on said frame, a mechanism mounted on said frame and driven by said shaft to intermittently rotate said feedrollers to advance between them a'length of said ribbon a little longer than the long dimension of the opening in the envelope blank and to bring the forward end of said ribbon into reg-,

:istration with the opening in said blank on said platen, spaced guideways carried by saidframe and in which the opposite edges of saidribbon slide immediately the ribbon leaves said feed rollers and by which the free end of said ribbon is supported above and parallel to said platen when, said feed rollers intermittently stop, a

mechanism mounted onsaid framework and intermittently operatedby said shaft to sever the patch from the free end of said ribbon when said f eedv rollers havestopped and to leave said severed patch supported in said guideways at its side edges and in. registration with said opening, an intermittently moving plunger mechanism mounted on said frame and operated by said shaft subsequent to the operation of said severing mechanism and provided witha plunger normally held stationary above the plane of said ribbon and in registration with said opening and movable, vertically downwardly between said guides" and operative when depressed to quickly detach said patch from said guiding means and ,to press it firmly against the gummed portion of said blank adjacent said window opening and to immediately thereafter elevate said plunger from said; depressed position back. to said position rollers a loop of material of continually varying length, a take-up member floatingly mounted in said frame and supported by said loop, and means operated by said floating member to temporarily interrupt the operation of said drawing rollers when the length of said loop is relatively long and to put said drawing rollers into operation when said loop is relatively short. 7 1 I 4. In a patch applying mechanism for window envelope machines comprising a platen to which the gummed envelope blanks are consecutively regularly fed, a rigid frame mounted over said platen, a main shaft mounted in said frame to continuously rotate in synchronism with said envelope machine, meansmounted on said frame for supporting a supply of ribbon patch paper, a pair of coacting feed rollers mounted on said frame, a mechanism mounted on said framea'nd driven by said shaft to intermittently rotatesaid feed rollers to advance between them a length of said ribbon a little longer than the long dimension of the opening in the envelope blank and to bring the forward end-of said ribbon into registration with the opening in said blank on said platen, spaced guideways carried by said frame and in which the opposite edges of saidribbon slide immediately the ribbon leaves said feed rollers and" by which the free end of said ribbon is supported above and parallel to said platenwhen saidfeed rollers intermittently stop, a mechanism mounted on said framework and l intermittently operated .by said shaft to sever the patch from the nism and provided with a plunger normally subseheld stationary above the plane of said ribbon and in registration with said opening and movable vertically downwardly between said guides and operative when depressed to quickly detach said patch from said guiding means and to press it firmlyagainst the gummed portion of said blank adjacent said window opening and to immediately thereafter elevate said plunger from said depressed position back to said position above the plane of said ribbon, a clamping mechanism mounted in said frame and operated by said shaft to hold said envelope blank immovable on said platen during the operation 'of said plunger mechanism, a pair of drawing rollers mounted in said frame and driven by said shaft and operative to normally continuously advance said ribbon at a rate slightly faster than the rate at which said said floating member to temporarily interrupt the operation of said drawing rollers when the length of said loop is relatively long and to put said drawing rollers into operation when said loop is relatively short, the entire frame and the parts mounted thereon being adjustable as a whole in any direction in a plane parallel to said platen.

5. The combination with a. window envelope machine having a framework and a platen, of a patch applying mechanism comprising in combination a frame, a drive shaft mounted therein and continuously rotated in synchronism with said envelope machine, a pair of coacting feed rollers mounted in said frame and driven by saidv shaft to advance between them a length of ribbon a little longer than the long dimension of the opening in the envelope blank and to bring the forward end of said ribbon into registration with the opening in said-blank, a pair of drawing rollers mounted in said frame and driven by said shaft and operative to normally continuously advance said ribbon at a rate slightly faster than the rate at which said ribbon is delivered by said drawing rollers a loop of material of continu-' ally varying length an intermittently operative cutting mechanism, an intermittently operative patch applying plunger and an intermittently operative mechanism to clamp the envelope blank to said platen, all said intermittently operating mechanism being mounted in said frame and operating in sequence from said drive shaft, the entire frame and the parts mounted therein being adjustable as a whole in any direction in a plane parallel to said platen, and means to immovably secure said frame to said framework with said patch applying plunger in registration with the window opening in the envelope blank on said platen.

HENRY KASSEKERT.

FRANK J. KAESER. 

